POPULAR VICTORY: Rideonabigjetplane, ridden by Clayton Gallagher and trained by Ipswich-based Garry Smith.

Horses

Trainer's welcome success on home track

by TURF CHAT with Brett Kitching

23rd Apr 2018 5:30 PM

IPSWICH trainer Garry Smith collected his first win at his home track at the latest Ipswich Metropolitan meeting.

The winner was Rideonabigjetplane. The $15,000 first prize took the galloper's earnings to $96,000.

Apprentice Clayton Gallagher rode patiently and did not panic when near the tail of the field with 700 metres to run. A forward move from the 600 metre mark resulted in Rideonabigjetplane rounding up the field and racing away to win by three lengths.

The $16 dividend for Rideonabigjetplane last Wed- nesday was a welcome bonus for connections.

His sixth win and 17th placing from 35 starts gives a handy place percentage of near enough to 50%.

After a win at Toowoomba in December, this seven-year-old gelding placed once at Toowoomba and twice at Ipswich and was well due for a win. His previous run was in early February for a second, ridden by Alannah Fancourt, at Ipswich.

Alannah missed the ride, being aboard Five Stud Poker for trainer Robert Heathcote.

After playing up prior to the race and for some time refusing to leave the parade enclosure, this galloper put in a strong finishing effort to finish fifth after coming from last.

Jockeys double up

THERE was a double of winning doubles for the equal second placed jockeys on the Ipswich Premiership ladder on Wednesday.

Robbie Fradd and Jim Byrne each collected two winners to move to 23 wins at the three-quarter mark of the season.

In the process, the premiership lead of Lloyd was cut by one after he managed to collect his 28th winner of the season with Evolo, which gave Gold Coast trainer Toby Edmonds his 14th season win at Ipswich.

Fradd's winners were aboard Soaring Heart, for Deagon trainer Pat Duff, and Truculent, for Gary Duncan of the Sunshine Coast.

Byrne's winning double was shared with the Gold Coast training stable of Bryan and Daniel Guy. The winners were Kuiper and Sweet Adaline.

It was particularly pleasing to see the Guy stable collect their sixth and seventh wins at Ipswich this season as the Guys have been strong supporters of Ipswich racing for many years.

Over the past decade, Noisy Ocean, Motivate and Classic Karla have given the Guys a number of placings in the Ipswich Cup before Anagold gave them a win in the biggest Ipswich race with a rails hugging run in 2013 at long odds.

The success on Wednesday got even better as the stable collected the quinella in the last race with Sidero Star running second to Sweet Adaline.

The Guys only other runner for the day was Lady Eighty Eight, who as well ran second, giving two wins, two seconds, and a quinella from the four stable starters for the day.

Racing break

THERE is a break from racing at Ipswich until the dual meeting weekend of May 5 and 7.

These two dates are the Legs and Eddies Day, along with the 12th annual Labour Day meeting at Bundamba.

The Legs and Eddies Day features Ipswich Hospital Foundation sponsored footracing and a celebration for St Edmunds College.

Labour Day is a free family event, featuring free Fairground, entry and entertainment.

The Labour Day meeting is again sponsored by the CFMEU Mining and Energy. Last year it attracted a record attendance of 4500 patrons.

Next meeting

AFTER a short break for track maintenance, there are six May meetings commencing with the weekend double of Legs and Eddies Day, and Labour Day public holiday on May 5 and 7.